Spectrum wins $1M ex-convicts grant

Chuck Faris, CEO of Spectrum Health Systems. Spectrum is one of six U.S. agencies awarded funding from the Department of Justice to pay for reentry programs that help reduce recidivism among those convicted of drug-related crimes.

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By Emily Micucci

Worcester-based Spectrum Health Systems has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to operate a reentry program for offenders leaving prison considered at high-risk for resuming criminal activity.

Spectrum is one of just six awardees across the U.S., according to a statement released by the substance abuse treatment agency on Tuesday. The agency applied for a grant to fund statewide reentry services based on the success of a smaller-scale mentoring program piloted four years ago. The program provided pre- and post-release peer mentoring to 90 high-risk individuals releasing to Worcester County over two years and effectively reduced recidivism by 7 percent, according to Spectrum.

The Department of Justice grant will be rolled out over the next three years. Spectrum anticipates serving nearly 400 offenders, who must be within six months of release, plan to remain in Massachusetts and express an interest in participation. Supervised by Spectrum staff, volunteer mentors will be provided comprehensive training to work safely and effectively in their role.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction will provide recidivism data for participants within 12 months following release, while Brandeis University will conduct an independent evaluation to determine the program's effect on recidivism over time, Spectrum said.